Fuel-oil combustion



June 16, 1925. 1,542,171

w. F. RAVENOR FUEL OIL COMBUSTION Filed April 22, 1924 Ivrzwog Mm fiwnsm Patented June 16, .1925.

UNITED. STATESFPATEN 1,542,171 OFFICE;

FUEL-01L COMBUSTION.

Application fileaii rn 22, 1924. seriai'no. 708,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVI FR D FRANCIS RAVENOR, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and a resident of the] city of Vancouver, in the Provinceof British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fuel-Oil Combustion, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in effecting the combustion of fueloil, and the object of my invention is to provide a means wherebyexcessive carbon deposit is entirely preventedwhile at the same time amaximum heating efficiency is obtained from the oil.

In furnaces where the fuel oil is delivered thereinto and directedagainst a rough surface, such as the usual firebrick bridge and coping,the inherent residual particles or globules of oil in the flame areimpinged against the rough face of the brick bridge, to which theyadhere and are retained in substantially globular form, so that, beingprevented from spreading, the restricted surface which they present tothe flame prevents their combustion before the impingement on them ofother following-up cooler particles and thus the original or underneathparticles are prevented from reaching the kindling temperature. Acontinual repetition of this condition while the furnace is beingoperated results in the accumulation of a great mass of carbon and acorresponding loss in efficiency.

According to the .present invention the particles or globules of oil inthe flame are, any of them, prevented from retaining their unburntglobular form, but are each diffused into a very thin film of oil sothat their com; bustion is instantaneous, and a clear understanding ofthe invention will be obtained by reading the following description inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a typical oil burning boiler, the furnace being shown insection.

Fig. 2 illustrates an unburnt oil globule.

Fig. 3 illustrates the globule diffused into a thin film.

Fig. 4 illustrates the curling up of the film lllustrated in Fig. 3.

Similar figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing 1 indicates generally the boiler, 2 the furnace, 3 thefirebrick bridge and coping, and 4 the oil atomizer controlling the oilinjection into the furnace. This is the usual construction andarrangement, in which the atomizer directs the oil spray forwardly andhorizontally to impinge against the face of the bridge 3 resulting inthe detrimental andinefiicient conditions and results as hereinbeforeset forth. In the present instance, however, a tray or pan 5 of suitabledimensions is placed on the furnace hearth 6, Whichpan contains moltenlead, or other molten liquid or. matter, indicated the numeral 7, eitherin a state of rest oragitation, havinga higher boiling temperature thanthat of the oil flame and a greater density than the density of the oil,a

of unburnt oil globules on the molten sur-' face they spread out and arediffused into a very thin film, as indicated in Fig. 3, due to theminimum friction offered to such diffusion by the liquid surface asopposed to the maximum friction offered by the rough firebrick surfaceand, curling up, as indicated in Fig. 4:, they are consumed instantaneously, thus ensuring the utmost efficiently through quickcombustion and prevention of carbon formation, a further advantage beingfound in that the excess air allowed in fuel oil combustion hitherto isgreatly reduced due to the filming and diffusion of the unburnt oilglobules.

If it is desired to further reduce the excess oxygen required forcombustion a catalytic agent in powdered form, such as iron filings, isspread on the liquid surface of the matter contained in the tray 5,which effects this object without hindering the diffusion of the unburntoil globules, since, being in a powdered form, it does not present anyundue friction to the excess diffusion desired.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In fuel oil combustion, directingunvaporized oil particles contained in the flame on to a surface ofliquid matter having a boiling temperature higher than the flametemperature.

2. In fuel oil combustion, directing un vaporized oil particlescontained in the flame on to a surface of liquid matter having agreater-density than the density of the oil particles.

3. In fuel oil combustion, directing unvaporized oil particles containedin the flame on to a surface of liquid rn'atter having a boilingtemperature higher than the flame temperatureand acglfeater density thanthe density of the oil particles.

4. In fuel oil combustion, directing the burning fuel on to a body ofliquid matter on the surface of which is spread a pow-- dered catalyticagent. 7 I I In fuel oil combustion; directing the burning fuel on to 1body of liqui'tina'e tei' ha ing a boiling temperature higher than thefiame tehiperatur'e on the surface of which is spread a powderedcatalytic g ty p 6. In fuel oil combustion, directing the burning fuelon ti) a body of liquid matter having it greater density than thediusity of the oil on the surface of which is spread a powderedcatalytic agent.

7. In fuel oil combustion, directing the burning fuel on to a body ofliquid nia'tter having a boiling temperature higher than the flametemperature and 'a greater density than the density of the oil on thesurface of which is spread a powdered catalytic agent.

8; In fuel oil combustion, the combination with a furnace, of a traydisposed within said furnace in which is contained a liquid having aboiling temperature higher than the flame temperature on to use surfaceof which the flame is directed.

9; In fuel oil combustion, the combination with it furnace, of it traydisposed within said furnace in which is contained a liqiiitl having aboiling temperitture higher than the flaine ter'np'er'tt-ure on, thesurface of which is spread a powdered catalytic agent on towhich thename is directed.

Dated Vancouver, B. CL, this th day of April, 1924.

W'IL'FRED FRANCIS RAVENOR.

